Extended nursing: Is it for you?

Member comments

our town had a town supports breastfeeding meeting and i found out that 2 ladies i went to high school with are breastfeeding into the 2nd year. i admit i was suprised. i had not heard of it other than Mayim Bialik, and the article in time with the kid standing on a stepstool nursing. but after hearing from these women i think it might be a good idea. my 8 month old is still very attached to nursing. he has actually started waking up in the middle of the night to nurse again but i think it might be teething and or bad dreams. it is the only thing that consoles him at that point. anyway i think we will just keep going and stop when we feel like it.
thank you for this article it is a help and a support. keep up the good work babycenter!

I'm bf my 19 mo son. But he takes a bottle of organic formula when I have to work or I'm gone. He mostly nurses before and after sleep. He sleeps thought night now so I'm finally getting more sleep. Yay!! Supplementing with formula while away has really helped me keep going. I don't have to worry about pumping and storing etc. he never liked my milk after it was frozen anyway. I'm happy with where we stand today. It's working perfectly!! And he's hardly sick and never had an ear infection. I know I'm doing the right thing.

So sounds like no negatives really, maybe i'll just keep nursing & take it day by day. I've thrown all my other good intentions out the window since my little one has been here. I'm so grateful I have made it to a year finally. I didn't think I would last 6 weeks. The more I learn about the benefits of breastfeeding the more I wonder why we all don't just drink raw milk. This stuff is awesome!

my baby is 8mths i bf him and also give formula 2 times daily.....wen my baby needs to sleep he needs to be breast fed....i wan to bf him ateast for two yrs.... i really feel good as a mom its my choice....

Seems crazy to me that we need to defend breast feeding past age 1. I'm going on 4 1/2 years straight-nursed my twins until they were almost three ( they weaned just after their baby sister was born), and now their baby sister, who is 19 months. I'm thinner than before both pregnancies, and my children are happy and healthy. As some other moms have mentioned, the most valuable reason for continued nursing is illness-when babies are sick, especially with high fever, they do not want a bottle! They do not want solids! The only thing that got me and my children through viral illnesses with high fevers was plopping on the couch and nursing. Kept them hydrated and comforted. Also, for those moms who are pregnant while nursing a toddler, I found that continuing the nursing until the baby was born really helped my milk come in quicker, and the toddlers aided in building supply. However, I did develop "nursing aversion," and I chose to wean the twins so I cold focus on nursing the baby. Just a

My baby is going on 10 months and basically EB. She loves to try our food but doesn't eat enough to lessen her nursing yet. I have already been getting slack from family about weaning. She never took to a bottle either and it has been rather difficult on us but rewarding. We have tried to work on taking a cup since about 5 months with expressed milk a few times a day but she just sips then spits it! Believe me I would love to be able to give her a bottle sometimes. I never imagined that I would be extending nursing but I signed up for motherhood and we all do what we have to do!

I feel so much better after reading all your comments. My daughter is 19 months & I bf her for her nap & at night. I get sooooo much criticism from my family & even my husband. I tried weaning her & she just wasn't ready. I'm putting my Childs needs before those who criticize me. I'm so glad I read this article along with the comments! :)

Do what feels right for you and your children. If that's nursing for 3 years, have fun. If that's formula from day 1, whatever works. Judging people for their choice for their family seems harsh and unnecessary. Kindness and support go farther than guilt trips.

Over 18 months is disgusting. Your child should know how to self sooth a bit. He gets a boo boo and wants to be comforted? Give him a bandaid! He gets sick less often than his peers? So do kids that are homeschooled. Your kid has teeth and can eat regular food, let them. If they can walk, talk, and ask for food- your bf days are done. People that nurse their children to 3 are doing it for their own selfish needs and wants. Yeah, it is recommended by the WHO to impoverished peoe all over the world. Food is abundant here.

Over time I've become a little more selfish in this regard. My first was nursed 20 months, second was 17 months, and third for 15 months.

At some point, a mother has the the right to cut off something that she no longer feels comfortable with. It's her body and she shouldn't feel obligated to let a controlling toddler with a mouth full of teeth suck on her. Toddlers can cuddle with mom for comfort.

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